First signs that some Russian troops are indeed retreating from the Kyiv direction. Large numbers of BMDs with Russian and VDV flags were spotted today on their way from the Ukrainian border to Belarus' Rechitsa and Gomel where they were loaded onto railway platforms. pic.twitter.com/6B5qTsgFRq

— Tadeusz Giczan 🇺🇦 (@TadeuszGiczan) March 29, 2022

Head of the #Russian negotiating delegation: We have received written proposals from #Ukraine confirming its pursuit to be a neutral country, free of nuclear weapons.

Ignore Kiev, ignore Kharkov (where I am), ignore the rest of Ukraine — THIS is the important bit, this is where THE battle is taking place: The eastern Ukraine cauldron, around Kramatorsk.

1/2 pic.twitter.com/5bvKV8ze87

— Gonzalo Lira (@realGonzaloLira) March 29, 2022

60,000 fighters are caught here, the bulk of the AFU.

They have no chance of resupply or reinforcements, and they have run out of gasoline.

Once they have been neutralized (one way or the other), everything else in Ukraine will fall, and the war will end.

Main tasks of first stage of special operation in Ukraine has been completed, now the focus is on the main goal, the liberation of Donbass - DM Shoigu

Russian ruble now at 88, back to where it was on Feb 24 before Russian invasion.

Russia’s deputy defense minister says Moscow has decided to “fundamentally cut back military activity in the direction of Kyiv and Chernigiv” in order to “increase mutual trust for future negotiations to agree and sign a peace deal with Ukraine.” pic.twitter.com/2qDYOzAzDp

— max seddon (@maxseddon) March 29, 2022

Well, Didn't See That Coming....Maybe Russia Is Backing Down

1) Ukraine requires security guarantees similar to NATO's Article 5. If Ukraine is a target of aggression, all guarantors have three days to respond and provide military assistance to Ukraine.

2) Guarantors should be the members of UN, primary Britain, China, Russia, USA, France, Poland and Turkey.

3) Ukraine agrees with neutral status. That means no nuclear weapons and no military alliances. If Ukraine wants to host a military exercise or have a foreign military base on its territory, it needs to have an approval by all guarantors.

4) The neutrality requires a change of Ukrainian constitution. A public referendum is needed for that.

5) Guarantees do not apply for Crimea and Donbas. These are separate issues and needs further discussion.

6) Ukraine is free to join EU, Russia has no issue with that.

Breaking: Russia is beginning to withdraw some forces from around the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, in what the US assesses is a “major” strategy shift, two senior US officials tell me. US is already observing movements underway of Russian Battalion Tactical Groups (BTGs) 1/
5:44 AM · Mar 29, 2022

2/ In the US view, this is not a short-term adjustment to regroup, but a longer-term move as Russia comes to grips with failure to advance in the north. Russian MOD said Tuesday it has decided to “drastically reduce hostilities” in the Kyiv and Chernihiv directions.

Ukrainian negotiating delegation:

We have not yet agreed on anything with the Russian side, and we have not obtained any approval from them

We will not join NATO but we will join the European U
1

— maytham (Z_V) (@maytham956) March 29, 2022

Russia receives draft deal proposing neutral non-aligned Ukraine pic.twitter.com/1r7Osk176x

— RT (@RT_com) March 29, 2022